An Annual Thanksgiving Message From Southern Plate
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Dear Southern Plate Family,
As we reflect back during the year while celebrating Thanksgiving 2023, this year has been another doosey! So many things going on that can make us feel overwhelmed, stressed and negative about the future. I join with all of you praying for peace and love in our world.
But to keep our focus on the difficult times only moves us away from our ability to see the blessings. No guilt is necessary when we do find ourselves focusing on wishing things weren’t so challenging. However, when we find ourselves moving in that direction even though it sure isn’t easy, to keep ourselves moving forward, it’s so important to focus on what we are thankful for right now AND be hopeful for the future. Even if you have had a terrible year and feel like you have nothing to be thankful for, start with the small things like being thankful for having the ability to read this message or take your next breath or feel the clothes you are wearing sitting softly against your skin. Start with the little things.
We are all human and aren’t perfect so sometimes we need reminders. Thanksgiving can be one of those reminders to help shift our sights back on what we actually have in our lives right now that we are truly thankful for. But don’t let it end on Thanksgiving. Make time to be Thankful all year round.
Paul reminds us to “give thanks in all circumstances” (1 Thessalonians 5:18). And James also adds, ‘Count it all joy, my brothers, when you meet trials of various kinds, for you know that the testing of your faith produces steadfastness”. (James 1:2-3)
So I hope this Thanksgiving is a special time for you to focus on what you have right now even if it’s less than last year… and that you find gratitude in your heart while being hopeful for the future.
I know one big thing I am thankful for is this year has brought me closer to you, the Southern Plate Family. My heart is full as I remind myself of that glorious blessing.
Happy Thanksgiving! If you’re looking for a great way to be thankful this season be sure to grab my free gratitude printable. Gratitude Printable Southern Plate
And here’s just a little something that may make your life a tiny bit easier this holiday season. Click here for just a little something that might make the upcoming holiday planning just a tiny bit easier.
If you’d like to place what you are thankful this year, please do so in the comments.
I had never even considered what you said about that picture (other than knowing it had to have been a pretty noisy gathering) but I just know you’ve got to be right!
I hope you and yours have a blessed, fun, and full-stomach Thanksgiving.
You have a very touching way of expressing what is the best that is in us at Thanksgiving. God bless you and yours. Enjoy your holiday. Cathy Vins
Happy Thanksgiving to you and yours!!! May you all be greatly blessed by our Wonderful Lord and Savior and be thankful for His sacrifice so that we may have eternal life!! We all have so much to be thankful for from the teeniest act to a great act towards others–be it a smile to all you pass on the street with a smile, holding a door open for someone–helping one who’s struggling to get their groceries in the car–letting someone go ahead of you in a line at the cashier–and on and on. We are sharing our Blessings from God with those who may be having a bad day, a sad day. Christy, you are truly a Blessing to all you touch–your unselfishly sharing with all of us who love your show, recipes, etc. From my house to yours HAPPY THANKSGIVING every day!!
A Thanksgiving Day Prayer
Lord, so often times, as any other day
When we sit down to our meal and pray
We hurry along and make fast the blessing
Thanks, amen. Now please pass the dressing
We’re slaves to the olfactory overload
We must rush our prayer before the food gets cold
But Lord, I’d like to take a few minute more
To really give thanks to what I’m thankful for
For my family, my health, a nice soft bed
My friends, my freedom, a roof over my head
I’m thankful right now to be surrounded by those
Whose lives touch me more than they’ll ever possibly know
Thankful Lord, that You’ve blessed me beyond measure
Thankful that in my heart lives life’s greatest treasure
That You, dear Jesus, reside in that place
And I’m ever so grateful for Your unending grace
So please, heavenly Father, bless this food You’ve provided
And bless each and every person invited
Amen!
–Scott Wesemann
Happy Thanksgiving to each and everyone of you.
I love all you put on here. You are so genuine. Hope you and your family amd friends have a blessed Thanksgiving.
Christy I just want to say first Happy Thanksgiving to you and your entire family , may God bless you real good!!! Second thank you for your hard work you do for all of us that can’t wait to read every thing that you bring to us cause we know it is going to be good and some thing we can share with family and friends , you are a true BLESSING!! Not just the best recipes but all the sweet words of encouragement and uplifting that we all need every day in our world of uncertainty Go Christy!!!!!!